My disciplinary hearing is due to start tomorrow, Tuesday 20 March, 2018. At this stage, my main concern is to ensure that the public understands what these charges are about. A key consideration in ...

'If we cared about what we represent, what we stand for, such a flawed person would not have been our president. It is a reflection of us'

Author Redi Tlhabi said she wrote her account of the life of President Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser Fezekile Kuzwayo because the country needed to start reflecting on power relations in our society.

Tlhabi was speaking at the official launch of her book Khwezi: The remarkable story of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.

Massive applause as Redi discusses her controversial book about the life of President Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser Fezekile Kuzwayo. The audience included Redi's husband Brian, Ronnie Kasrils, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and DJ Fresh. Picture: MADELENE CRONJE

Speaking to radio talk show host and author Eusebius McKaizer, Tlhabi was asked how she felt as a citizen following the rape trial.

"If we cared, not about the outcome of the case, if we cared about our moral DNA as a nation. If we cared about what we represent, what we stand for, such a flawed person would not have been our president. It is a reflection of us,” Tlhabi said.

Tlhabi also said she wrote the book because “we need to start reflecting on power relations in our society, whether from gender, the economy and whatever”.

Kuzwayo, who was HIV-positive, accused Zuma of raping her at his home in Johannesburg in 2005.

Zuma denied this, saying the sex was consensual and he was found not guilty in 2006.

Kuzwayo went into exile following the trial as there were threats against her. She returned to the country last year and passed away.

Tlhabi said Zuma was given so many moments in court to acknowledge -- even as he held on to his innocence -- that it was not the right thing to do, there was an abuse of power.

“He was asked about his various positions in society and the authority that he brings to any space that he occupies. He was asked that by the prosecutor Charin de Beer.

“His answer was -- to the question: ‘Do you acknowledge you hold more power’. His answer was: ‘I don’t work with her, we don’t work in the same space’. That is being frivolous about something that is important,” Tlhabi said.

Tlhabi said when her analysis of the record of proceedings in the rape case made her physically ill.

Tlhabi said there was an application by the defence in the rape trial to allow questioning of certain cases in Kuzwayo’s life where she was accused of demonstrating the habit of falsely accusing men of rape.

“There was an application. It was granted. But my understanding was that it was meant to be specific to certain cases, but her entire sexual history was laid bare,” Tlhabi said.

She said Kuzwayo was even questioned about instances where she said she was involved with that person.

“What was the purpose of quizzing her about the men and women she chose to be with.”

Tlhabi said she imagined herself as Kuzwayo sitting in the courtroom being asked about every relationship that she had ever had.

“I imagined sitting there listening to (Zuma’s advocate) Kemp J Kemp (SC) pouring scorn on psychology and the relationship between trauma and our actions and reactions.”

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Meanwhile, Tlhabi has come out to let followers know that she is still not back on Twitter‚ and any accounts set up in her name are fake.

In a video shared on Instagram‚ Redi said she hasn't tweeted since September 22‚ and that the situation has left her frustrated.

"I am doing something unusual. I am posting a video from my house and I am doing that because the level of hacking on my account has been so sophisticated. After four and a half days‚ Twitter has been unwilling...unable... I don't know to resolve this issue‚" she said.

Redi told TshisaLIVE it frustrated her that the situation has not yet been resolved.

"I have tried everything possible to restore my account. It has not been possible. I am not sure if any further steps are possible. I am just astounded at how Twitter is unable to deal with hackers‚ long after they have been reported‚" she said.

She said that even though the issue was "escalated to the highest level" Twitter has not been successful in sorting it out.

"Here's what is going on; I have not tweeted since the 22 of September. Anyone who has been tweeting using my name is a fake and a fraud. It is not me‚" she said.

The author explained that there were at least three people impersonating her on the social media platform.

She mentioned that the accounts with the handle @redithlabi‚ @redi_tlhabi were fake accounts‚ once again informed fans that her original account was also "hijacked" over the weekend.

Redi went on to show a couple of personal items in the video to prove her "authenticity‚" which included her favourite shoes‚ fragrance‚ lip gloss and her wedding album.

She warned follows not to be misled or defrauded by the hackers‚ and said that when or if her account is restored‚ she would post a video to prove that it is her.